St Andrews Links Blog

Swanning around in the Swilcan burn

With the osprey sightings thinning out and the swallows starting to group together there’s only one thing for it – get the thermals on! Many of the shrubs on the Links are now in fruit which should provide a valuable source of food for our native birds whilst any passing migrants will stop over for a quick refuel – this is where our bird count of 88 should increase significantly. Speaking of birds, we had visitors to the Swilcan Burn recently when a mute swan brought its juveniles for a wander. The adult swan had an ankle ring and so we’ll do a bit of investigation work and keep you updated with what we manage to find out.

Fungi season is in full swing with many now in fruit. These shaggy inkcaps can be found alongside the 10th hole of the Old Course and there are lots more puffballs abound too. Waxcaps can be found on the New Course whereas the Eden and Strathtyrum Courses hold a great deal colourful fungus. We found a rare dwarf earthstar on the Jubilee last year so fingers crossed for another rarity this year.

Our gorse management has begun with small amounts being achieved within the heather stands. Gorse will out-compete heather with ease so our most recent task was to coppice any which had encroached into the heather areas. We had a helping hand with this task however in the form of Magnus and Lars, two greenkeepers from Sweden. The boys worked hard and we accomplished a great amount in the time they were here – many thanks guys!

Words by James Hutchinson, Environmental Officer